Marijuana Legalization
The ACLU-WA is working with the New Approach Washington campaign to reform Washington's failed marijuana laws by enacting an initiative that will legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana use by adults.
Since the year 2000, over 100,000 adults have been arrested for marijuana possession in Washington state. In addition to criminalizing peaceful drug users, current laws have violated civil liberties in many ways – eroding protections against intrusive searches and seizures, costing productive people opportunities at scholarships and employment, having disproportionate impacts on communities of color.
It’s time for a new approach to marijuana policy in Washington state. Large segments of the public recognize that the “lock’em up” mentality of the War on Drugs has failed and that we should focus law enforcement resources on serious crimes rather than marijuana users. They are open to creating a tightly regulated system that generates tax revenue for our state and local governments.
The ACLU-WA strongly supports New Approach Washington’s Initiative 502 to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults. The initiative would authorize the Washington State Liquor Control Board to regulate the production and distribution of marijuana for sale to adults 21 and over through private state-licensed stores. A new marijuana excise tax would be earmarked for prevention, research, education, and health care. Laws prohibiting driving under the influence would be amended to include maximum thresholds for THC blood concentration.
I-502 is sponsored by prominent individuals in civic life and the public health and legal communities, and it has attracted broad-based support. Backers include former U.S. Attorneys John McKay and Kate Pflaumer, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, and Charles Mandigo, former head of the Seattle FBI Office. The state’s two largest newspapers, the Seattle Times and Spokane’s Spokesman-Review, have endorsed the measure.
New Approach Washington gathered more than 350,000 signatures on petitions for I-502. The Secretary of State has certified I-502's signatures, and lawmakers have three options: adopt it, reject it or refuse to act (in which case it goes on the November ballot), or propose an alternative measure on the same subject (in which case both versions go on the November ballot).
Learn more at www.NewApproachWA.org.
